Over the counter pain killers like aspirin and ibuprofen may reduce the effectiveness of some anti-depressants. "Common over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen may reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, according to a mouse and human study from The Rockefeller University" states Steven Reinberg. They are not sure why this happens, but all patients should be aware of this possibility and contact their doctor or therapy alternatives available.

"In one study, we found that anyone who reported use of an anti-inflammatory or analgesic agent had a much poorer treatment outcome compared to people who didn't report any use of NSAIDs," said study lead author Jennifer Warner-Schmidt.

This raises the particular concern for those on anti-depressants, but also brings rise to the issue for all patients about drug-interactions with medications. Similar to this problem is that some antibiotics can make birth control ineffective.

Check with a trusted pharmacist if you are taking any medications when using over-the-counter medications. It may seem trivial (that it’s just Advil…), but the repercussions can be more serious.